Illinois Beef's Family Recipes
Every year to prepare for May Beef Month, we collect family beef recipes from our members to feature in our magazine and social media. Now that we have quite the collection of these delicious recipes, we want to share them with you in our Family Recipes Collection!Give these recipes a try for you next family dinner!
Have your own recipe to submit? Send it in to Olivia Hoots, [email protected], with a title and full recipe included for a chance to be featured in our next May Beef Month Family Recipes collection and here!


Aunt Kim's Meatloaf and Hokey Pokey Sauce
What you'll need (Meatloaf):
2 lbs. hamburger
1 package onion soup mix
1 can evaporated milk
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 ketchup
Additional ingredients: Ketchup and 2-3 tbsp. brown sugar
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix all meatloaf ingredients together. Put into loaf pan, or 8x8 pan and shape into loaf. Cover top with additional ketchup and 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar. Bake for 1.5 hours, or until internal temperature reads 160°F. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
What you'll need (Hokey Pokey Sauce):
1 can of tomato sauce (15 oz.)1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 cup of brown sugar (more or less depending on desired sweetness)
Salt and pepper
Directions:
Combine all Hokey Pokey Sauce ingredients in a small sauce pan. Bring to slight boil over medium heat to warm sauce. Serve over slices of meatloaf. Also good over mashed potatoes if served with meatloaf.

Grandma T's Smothered Steak
What you'll need:
2 lbs. round or sirloin steak
1 can tomato soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 cup of oil (of choice)
Directions:
Cut meat into strips, removing bone and extra fat. Pour oil in large skillet and cook steak on low-medium heat, turning once until done (20 minutes or so). Simmer by pouring both soups and one can of water into the skillet with the steak. Mix.
Simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Optional: Add peppers, mushrooms, or onions for flavor and texture.

Angela Anderson's Sale Day BBQ Sandwiches
What you'll need:
3 lbs. hamburger
3 lbs. roast
1 1/2 cups ketchup
1 onion
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 cans chicken gumbo soup
Salt and pepper (to taste)
A "little" mustard and BBQ sauce
Directions:
Boil beef roast until tender and shred. In a large skillet, brown hamburger and onion. Drain. Combine roast and hamburger then add other ingredients. Simmer for 45 minutes to an hour over slow heat. This lets the flavor become savory throughout.
Good to freeze and save for later!

Will's Favorite Beef Chili
What you'll need (Ground Beef):
4 lbs. ground beef
1 sweet onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
1/4-1/2 tsp. ground allspice
1/4-1/2 tsp. black pepper
What you'll need (Chili):
4 tbsp. flour
1-1 1/2 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
3 tsp. cumin
3 tbsp. granulated sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 tbsp. paprika
1 cap-full A1 Steak Sauce
Good squirt of ketchup
2 46 oz. cans tomato juice
1 27 oz. can chili beans
1 28 oz. can petite cut tomatoes
Cayenne if you want extra heat
Directions:
Cook ground beef with spices and onion in a large pot over medium heat. Drain off fat.
Once beef is cooked, sprinkle flour over ground beef and cook for a minute or two. Add the rest of the spices, steak sauce, ketchup, tomatoes, and chili beans. Lower heat, if needed, so you do not burn anything. Give this a good stir to combine everything, then slowly add tomato juice, stirring as you pour. Lower to medium-low heat and let simmer for 20-30 minutes, lowering heat as necessary.
Serve with your choice of Fritos corn chips, cheese and saltine crackers.
Also good served over spaghetti for "Chili Spaghetti"!

The Willrett Family's Carne Asada Fries
What you'll need (Carne Asada):
1 lb. flank or skirt steak
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp. cilantro, minced
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup lime juice
1 tsp. canola oil
1/2 cup shredded cheese of your choice
What you'll need (French Fries):
2 Russet potatoes
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. paprika
What you'll need (for serving):
Sour cream
Guacamole
Diced tomato
Cilantro
Cojita Cheese
Directions:
Preheat oven to 450°F and line baking sheet with parchment paper. While over is preheating, cut potatoes into wedges. In a large bowl, stir the potatoes, olive oil, salt, garlic powder, and paprika. Place the fries on baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. While fries bake, in a bowl, combine salt, pepper, chili powder, oregano, garlic, cilantro, OJ and lime juice. Add steak and marinate for 20 minutes. Heat your skillet with oil over medium heat. Cook the steak for 3 minutes on both sides for a medium cook. Remove from the skillet and let steak rest before dicing.
In an oven-proof dish, place fries, cheese of choice and carne asada and broil until cheese is bubbly.
Serve and top with your choice of sour cream, guacamole, tomatoes, cilantro and grated cheese.

Slow COoker Beef And Noodles - From Jenna Siegel Meteer's Moments together cookbook
What you'll need:
2 lb. chuck roast
3 tbsp. herb and garlic seasoning
2 cups + an additional 1/2 cup beef broth
1/4 cornstarch, whisked, with an equal amount of water
16 oz. egg noodles
1/2 cup heavy cream
Directions:
Season roast with 2 tablespoons of seasoning and place in slow cooker. Add 2 cups of broth, cover, and cook on low for at least 8 hours or until roast is fall-apart fork tender. After cooked, shred beef and add cornstarch slurry, the remaining 1/2 cup of beef broth, noodles and cream to slow cooker. Turn to high heat and cover and allow to cook for another 30-40 minutes, stirring a few times, until noodles are cooked and sauce is thick. Once it is done, season with remaining seasoning and mix well.
Get the book! Inspired by five generations of farmers that came before her, Jenna Siegel Meteer brings a collection of recipes targeting farm wives, stock show moms, sports parents, and those from all walks of life who need a hand in the kitchen. From breakfast to main meals and desserts, these recipes are meant to be joyfully created and enjoyed by all who cherish their moments together.
Moments Together recipe book available for purchase on Amazon at the link here.

HEBERT FARMs' favorite Meatballs
What you'll need:
2 eggs
2 lbs. ground beef
1 cup crushed crackers
1/3 cup ketchup
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tbsp chopped onion
1 can cranberry sauce
1 bottle chili sauce
Directions:
Preheat over to 350°F. Put eggs in bowl and beat, then add ground beef, crushed crackers, ketchup, garlic powder, salt, pepper and onion. Mix. Roll into balls and space into a 13x9 baking dish. Melt cranberry sauce and chili sauce in a saucepan on the stove. Pour the sauce over the meatballs and bake for 45-60 minutes or until the internal temperature reached 160°F.

GRam's beef stroganoff
What you'll need:
2 lbs. sirloin steak (or beef round)
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp butter
1/2 chopped onion
4 tbsp flour
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 cups of fresh mushrooms (optional)
1/2 cup miracle whip
1/2 cup water
2 tsp beef bouillon granules
Directions:
Cut the sirloin into strips. Sauté in a large skillet with oil and butter. When steak is almost to your desired doneness, add the chopped onion (and optional mushrooms) . Stir in the flour and mix well. Add all remaining ingredients and simmer for a few more minutes. Serve over noodles or rice!

Annie's cheesy cowboy soup
What you'll need:
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 finely diced yellow onion
1 cup finely sliced carrots
2 medium, peeled & diced potatoes
6 cups chicken broth
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 block of cream cheese
1 bag frozen corn
8 oz. Colby jack shredded cheese
Seasonings of choice (Italian, seasoned salt, pepper, garlic powder)
Directions:
Brown ground beef and drain; sauté onions and carrots until golden; combine ground beef and vegetables in pot; stir in potatoes, chicken broth, Rotel tomatoes and corn, let simmer until potatoes are soft (30-45 minutes); place block of cream cheese and seasoning in pot and stir until well combined; stir in shredded cheese and remove heat.